France Destination Wedding at the Enchanting Chateau du Vivier | by Paris Makeup & Hair Artist Onorina Jomir
Photography: Ian Holmes Photography | Floral Design: Lily Paloma | Makeup & Hair Styling: Onorina Jomir Beauty | Venue: Chateau du Vivier
Planning a France destination wedding is a great way to bring two families together. As an American makeup and Hair artist in Paris, France, I have the honor of beautifying countless brides from the us and canada for their French château destination weddings.
Last year I had the pleasure of providing Mallory and her bridesmaids with beauty services for her Château destination wedding in France. Mallory (bride) and Marcos (groom) live in Chicago, but have family all over the world. Marcos is from Brazil, and Mallory had family members all over the United States. Since everyone had to fly in for the wedding, they thought, why not make it a destination wedding in France?
Mallory and Marcos’ during their French Chateau Destination Wedding at Chateau du Vivier.
Photo Courtesy of Ian Holmes Photography
The Venues
For the Ceremony, Mallory and Marcos fell in love with Château du Vivier’s romantic gardens and the Sainte Chapelle de Charles V.
Sainte Chapelle de Charles V is a 14th century chapel which had been reclaimed by nature; loose stones and crumbling walls encircled the altar, with grass beneath their feet and the open sky above them; the perfect backdrop for Mallory’s French fairytale wedding ceremony.
Château du Vivier, Mallory and Marcos' Ceremony Venue; known for its iconic 13th century ruins and its chapel, which are beautifully reclaimed by nature. Photo Courtesy of Ian Holmes Photography.
For their Reception, the couple chose Abbaye Royaumont - a 13th century Abbey. Abbaye Royaumont former Cistercian abbey, is located near Asnières-sur-Oise in Val-d'Oise, approximately 30 km north of Paris, France.
The Abbey was the perfect location for guests to congregate after the ceremony for the reception, and its beautiful polished French gardens provided a sharp contrast from the 13th century ruins of Château du Vivier.
Abbaye Royaumont, Mallory and Marcos' Reception venue. Abbaye Royaumont is a former 13th Cisteran Abbey with beautifully polished french gardens rich in history; the monastery has several royals buried there and was once a field hospital during WWII. Photo Courtesy of Ian Holmes Photography.
Mallory’s Inspiration
Mallory found my services online, and after reading client testimonials of my work, she reached out to me for her Engagement photos in Paris, as well her French château wedding!
Once we connected, we began designing the perfect bridal hair and makeup look. Mallory wanted her bridal look to be timeless and romantic — she envisioned a neutral, earth toned palette to complement her complexion, and this contrasted beautifully with the lilacs and hydrangeas in her floral bouquet.
For her Paris engagement photoshoot, she wore her hair in an updo with loose curls framing her face, and opted for a half-updo with soft waves for the actual wedding day. Both looks suited her beautifully, plus she was able to have bridal portraits in her wedding dress wearing two difference styles!
Mallory’s Engagement photoshoot in Paris: Mallory had bridal portraits taken during her Paris Engagement photoshoot. She changed out of her wedding gown and into her black evening gown before meeting up with Marcos.
Photo courtesy of Le Secret D’Audrey
Mallory’s Engagement photoshoot in Paris: While meeting with vendors for their Chateau destination wedding in France, Mallory and Marcos had an engagement photoshoot in Paris.
Photo courtesy of Le Secret D’Audrey
Mallory + Marcos Engagement photoshoot in Paris: Mallory and Marcos had their engagement photos taken in Paris, several months before their French château destination wedding at Château du Vivier.
Photo courtesy of Le Secret D’Audrey
Getting Ready
Mallory and her Bridesmaids getting ready in the Bridal Suite before her French Chateau Destination Wedding, Château du Vivier.
Photo Courtesy of Ian Holmes Photography
On the morning of the wedding day, my team and I set up our workspace quickly in the bridal space; we had a tight schedule to get everyone ready, so having multiple artists for her bridal party was key! Once we were set up, the ladies began to arrive and we got everyone ready swiftly, leaving lipstick to the very end so they all looked fresh in the photographs to follow.
The bridal party enjoyed mimosas and pastries, and showered Mallory’s dog with affection as the morning went by and everyone got pampered. Mallory and Marcos flew their dog in from Chicago - they couldn’t imagine their big day without their fur baby by their side!
The Bridal Look
Mallory’s Bridal Look for her French Destination Château Wedding at Château du Vivier - neutral glamour eyes and peachy lip color with loose wavy hair, paired beautifully with her wispy wedding dress. Photo Courtesy of Ian Holmes Photography.
Mallory’s has rich, long, dark brown locks with a beautiful shine. Her wedding dress was a mermaid gown with an ethereal, show-stopping, full wispy skirt and cathedral train. The bodice was composed of lace applique, a sweetheart neckline with off-the-shoulder lace sleeves, and A pearl button back. Mallory looked like a fairy-tale princess for her magical French château wedding!
For Mallory’s bridal hairstyle, we designed a half-up bridal style to hold her long veil, while also looking totally effortless and natural. I parted her hair on the side and loosely curled her hair into long waves. We finished the look with a large, white crystal floral hair comb, which contrasted beautifully with her dark hair and paired perfectly with the applique details on her gown!
For the bridal makeup, we brightened her complexion with soft diffused highlighting. For the eyes, I designed a tear-proof, elegant shimmering eye look in neutral warm shades, and finished the look with long faux lashes and eye liner to add depth and emphasize her almond eyes. I applied blush in soft layers of warm pink to bring out her fair complexion and complement the warm tones in her eye look. For lips, we chose a satin finish, peachy-nude shade to complete her classic and timeless bridal look.
French Chateau Destination Wedding Bridal Party: Different full-length style dresses in the same shade creates uniformity, with similar eye makeup to Mallory’s Bridal beauty look, Abbaye Royaumont.
Photo Courtesy of Ian Holmes Photography
For the bridesmaids, we applied similar Eye makeup looks to Mallory’s bridal look and they each chose a favorite lip shade - this, coupled with multiple different full-length lavender dresses, created uniformity but still allowed each bridesmaid to express her own unique style.
By the early afternoon, the hairstyles and makeup for Mallory and her bridesmaids were complete. It was time for the bridal party portraits and putting on the wedding dress!
Once the bridal party began their portraits, I made my way over to the groom’s getting-ready space to style his hair as well. This kept us busy until the ladies were finished with their photography session with Ian Holmes.
Before the ceremony, my assistant artist and I touched up everyone’s hair and makeup, especially lips! They then made their way from the Château to the Ceremony site, the Sainte Chapelle de Charles V, all carrying beautiful floral bouquets by Lily Paloma.
Groom having his hair styled before his French Chateau Destination wedding at Château du Vivier.
Photo Courtesy of Ian Holmes Photography
The Wedding
After the bridesmaids and groomsmen made their way to the ceremony spot, Mallory entered with her parents, who walked her down the aisle. The couple exchanged handwritten vows for their symbolic wedding ceremony and were pronounced husband and wife, and their delightful dog met them at the end of the aisle - the sweetest moment!
Mallory and Marcos' Romantic French Chateau Destination Wedding ceremony, at the iconic ruins of Château du Vivier's Sainte Chapelle de Charles V. Photo Courtesy of Ian Holmes Photography.
Bride & Groom Portraits
while guests checked into their hotels, Marcos and Mallory took wedding portraits with their fur baby on the grounds of Château du Vivier and Abbaye Royaumont. The rain didn’t stop them from getting stunning outdoor portraits!
Romantic couple’s portraits during their French Château Destination Wedding, with their dog. Photo Courtesy of Ian Holmes Photography.
The couple met back with their guests at Abbaye Royaumont and ended the night celebrating alongside their close family and friends.
Destination weddings in France are such a romantic way to kickstart a marriage while giving your guests an experience that will last a lifetime! If you are planning a destination wedding, big or small in France, get in touch with me for your bridal hair and makeup needs! My team and I love weddings, and we’ll be honored to be there for you on your special day! We offer services in English and French, and can travel anywhere in France for your French destination château wedding.
French Château Destination Wedding: Couple Cutting the cake for their French Destination Wedding Reception at Abbaye Royoumont, in Val-d'Oise, France.
Photo courtesy of Ian Holmes Photography
Destination French Chateau Wedding: Mallory and Marcos chose their photographer, Ian Holmes, for his beautiful black and white photography work. He’s able to capture the film photography aesthetic using a digital camera!
Photo courtesy of Ian Holmes Photography
FEATURED VENDORS
Makeup + Hair Styling - Onorina Jomir Beauty
Paris Engagement Photography - Le Secret d'Audrey
Wedding Photography - Ian Holmes Photography
Floral Design - Lily Paloma
Ceremony Venue - Chateau du Vivier
Reception Venue - Abbaye Royaumont